Thanks for the info Paul .. I have a small bit to add:
Also remembering: in the Netherlands we celebrate our Liberation day today. After a German occupation from May 15th 1940 to May 5th 1945 the war finally come to an end in the Netherlands.
Yesterday we remembered our dead with two minutes silence; our deported and killed Jewish Dutch, civilians and military killed in the war and afterwards in other conflict situations around the world.
Paul
Netherlands
My father enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army in the fall of 1939; shortly after the outbreak of WW2 & shipped out to Britain in late Nov. 1940.
His regiment was one of many that fought the Nazi's for the liberation of The Netherlands. He was wounded in battle, but never the less; fought through until VE Day.
He returned home to my Mom in early 1946.
The interesting thing here is that when the Dutch citizens learned his name, they treated him like "Royalty".
Why you ask? His name was Joseph Thomas Orange. Our family bloodline traces directly back to Prince William of Orange (via Ireland) & the House of Orange.
My Dad passed away when I was 10 (1967), but I vividly remember some of the storied he told and how proud he was of his service to the Dutch people during this dark time in history.
Sorry guys, no jokes here; just Honour and Respect for those who fought & those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom.
- T. P. Orange
Interesting sidebar: In the early 1960's, I accompanied my Dad & Mom when they visited one of my Dad's "war buddies" in a small town north-west of Toronto.
I remember "hanging out" that afternoon with an older kid from Britain .......
Flash forward to 2006 .... I met the same guy once again in this very SOH CFS2 forum .... his name? Collin Glendinning of CG Shipyards fame ... aka: "Cap`n Long-Jock Collin"
We'd yak on Skype almost daily until he passed away in March 2014.
Small world eh?